Locked & Loaded (Ricochet 1)

Quinn thought he would driver her even if he knew it was for a date, though he wouldn’t like it one bit. Rick honestly seemed to want to make sure Quinn stayed safe, something she hadn’t been the last few years with Travis and then for a year on her own after she left him.

“Can you slow down?”

“Sorry,” Quinn paced her steps, not realizing how fast she was walking. She was feeling guilty for letting Rick come shopping with her. Suddenly, it didn’t feel right to have him help out for her date with Chase. Guilt warred inside her, right alongside lust and fear.

“Where to first?” Rick asked.

She saw Rick scanning the mall, looking carefully up and around at all of the different stores. Quinn noticed he did that a lot, took in his surroundings. The first time he was at her apartment he did that and it made her feel violated. Now she knew that Rick was just an exceptionally perceptive individual. He even knew that she was angry with him this past week. No way would Quinn ever admit that it was disappointment at having his reputation confirmed by Mara, it was too humiliating. No doubt he would laugh if he knew she had thought about him romantically.

Quinn was beyond naïve when it came to sex, only having been with Travis, and that wasn’t pleasurable at all. Rick, apparently, had fucked half of the women of Atlanta if she believed Mara, and she did. Mara had no reason to lie, and Rick was so good looking and so easy going, Quinn didn’t doubt that he could bed any woman he wanted just by using those stunning turquoise eyes.

Quinn groaned under her breath at the thought of Rick turning those charms on her. Blood started flowing to areas of her body that she had forgotten existed a long time ago. Molten heat pooled between her legs, making her uncomfortable and horny as hell.

“Here.” Quinn took a sharp right turn, ducking into the nearest women’s clothing store so Rick wouldn’t notice the blush spreading up her neck and into her face or her rapid, shallow breathing.

She heard muffled swearing behind her.

“Jesus, Quinn. Give me a head’s up. I nearly took out a family and tripped over a stroller.”

“Sorry,” Quinn snapped rudely, frustrated by the sudden, untimely awakening of her hormones.

“You really want to shop here?”

“Why, is it not good enough for you?”

“No doll, this is a plus sized store.”

Quinn lifted her head and finally looked around. “Oops.”

That’s it. I’m losing my mind.

RICK STARED AT Quinn incredulously as she stumbled nervously through the mall. He’d noticed her hands shaking earlier after he stupidly grabbed her on the sidewalk. Her over the top reaction had abuse victim written all over it, just like that day in her apartment when he got too close.

Now, watching her dart into a plus sized store to buy a dress for her very petite figure, he knew she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be left alone.

“This isn’t the store I wanted to go into.” She sounded on the verge of tears.

“Yeah, I figured,” Rick answered lightly, trying to lift the dark cloud that had settled between them. “Why don’t we try Bloomingdales?” He stepped back so she could pass him without touching. No way did he want a repeat of her earlier meltdown on the street.

Quinn wandered out into the mall atrium, helplessly lost.

“This way, doll.” He kept his voice gentle, when all he wanted to do was bundle her up in his arms, drive her home, and hold her until she felt safe and secure.

This fucking sucks.

The one thing he wanted to do more than anything was touch her, and it was the one thing that freaked Quinn out the most.

Rick led Quinn into Bloomingdale’s, directly to the women’s dress department. “Do you want me to wait somewhere else?” he asked, praying she said no. He really didn’t want to leave her by herself.

Quinn didn’t respond. Just a flick of her eyes to his let him know that she heard his question. Since she didn’t answer, he figured he could do as he pleased. Rick casually followed her through the racks, watching her gently caress each dress that interested her. He smiled when he noticed a tiny crinkle form between her eyes each time she looked at a price tag that she didn’t like.

Quinn spent a long time staring at a short, lavender dress. Rick knew she would be stunning in it. In the end, she frowned and put it back on the rack.

After selecting three dresses, Quinn headed for the fitting room. Rick trailed behind, folding his tall frame onto a low, overstuffed chair near the door. “I’ll wait here. Just yell if you need me.”

Quinn disappeared behind a louvered door for several minutes before coming out.

Sweet baby Jesus.